Electric motor monitor
First Claim
1. A monitor that attaches to an ac electric motor, said monitor comprising:
- a structural enclosure;
an engagement surface formed on said enclosure;
means for attaching said enclosure to the motor so that said engagement surface is adjacent the motor;
a power source disposed in said enclosure for supplying dc electrical power to the monitor;
sensors disposed in said enclosure for sensing a plurality of sensed parameters of the motor and producing a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the sensed parameters;
a signal processor disposed in said enclosure for receiving and processing the sensor signals to produce operating parameters of the motor based on the sensed parameters;
means for storing the operating parameters, said stored operating parameters corresponding to the operation history of the motor; and
means for outputting at least the stored operation history of the motor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ac machine monitor, particularly applicable to ac induction motors, provides information for ascertaining the health and condition of the motor. The monitor is self-contained, having its own internal power source, electronics, and sensor suite, and attaches directly to the outer frame of the motor. Sensors disposed within the monitor include a motor frame temperature sensor, flux sensor, vibration sensor, and clock. An ambient temperature sensor enables determination of motor frame temperature relative to ambient. Sensor outputs are processed and analyzed by monitor electronics to determine various life history parameters, including motor speed and load, which are stored in electronic memory. A communications port enables a peripheral device, such as a notebook computer or portable data collector, to communicate with the monitor and download the life history parameters stored in memory. Downloaded data can be further analyzed and statistically compared to trend data at a base computer to ascertain the health and condition of the motor. The monitor electronics are configured to consume very little power so that the internal power source will continue to power the monitor for several years.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A monitor that attaches to an ac electric motor, said monitor comprising:
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a structural enclosure; an engagement surface formed on said enclosure; means for attaching said enclosure to the motor so that said engagement surface is adjacent the motor; a power source disposed in said enclosure for supplying dc electrical power to the monitor; sensors disposed in said enclosure for sensing a plurality of sensed parameters of the motor and producing a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the sensed parameters; a signal processor disposed in said enclosure for receiving and processing the sensor signals to produce operating parameters of the motor based on the sensed parameters; means for storing the operating parameters, said stored operating parameters corresponding to the operation history of the motor; and means for outputting at least the stored operation history of the motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A monitor that attaches to and produces an operation history of an ac induction motor, said monitor comprising:
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a structural enclosure; a dc power source disposed in said enclosure; a flux sensor disposed in said enclosure for sensing magnetic flux generated by the motor, producing a flux signal representing flux; a vibration sensor disposed in said enclosure for sensing vibrations generated by the motor, producing a vibration signal representing motor vibrations; a motor frame temperature sensor disposed in said enclosure for sensing the temperature of the motor, producing a motor frame temperature signal representing motor frame temperature; an ambient temperature sensor positioned external to said enclosure for sensing ambient temperature and producing an ambient temperature signal representing ambient temperature; a signal processor disposed in said enclosure for receiving and processing the flux, vibration, motor frame temperature, and ambient temperature signals to produce a plurality of motor operating parameters; means for storing the operating parameters, said stored operating parameters corresponding to the operation history of the motor; and means for outputting at least the stored operating history of the motor.
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20. A method of monitoring an ac induction motor which generates magnetic flux, vibration, and temperature, comprising the steps of:
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attaching an electric motor monitor to the outer frame of an ac induction motor; producing a flux signal with said monitor representing magnetic flux generated by the motor; producing a vibration signal with said monitor representing vibrations generated by the motor; producing a motor frame temperature signal with said monitor representing motor frame temperature; processing the flux, vibration, and motor frame temperature signals with said monitor over time to determine a plurality of life history parameters for the motor; and storing said life history parameters in said monitor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for monitoring the condition of one or more ac machines, the system comprising:
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for each of said one or more ac machines, at least one monitor attached to the machine for sensing and storing a plurality of operating parameters of the machine, said stored parameters corresponding to the operation history of the machine, wherein said at least one monitor includes; a structural enclosure; an engagement surface formed on said enclosure; means for attaching said enclosure to the machine so that said engagement surface is adjacent the machine; a power source disposed in said enclosure for supplying dc electrical power to the monitor; sensors disposed in said enclosure for sensing a plurality of sensed parameters of the motor and producing a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the sensed parameters; a signal processor disposed in said enclosure for receiving and processing the sensor signals to produce operating parameters of the machine based on the sensed parameters; means for storing the operating parameters, said stored operating parameters corresponding to the operation history of the machine; and means for outputting at least the stored operation history of the machine; and a portable data collector for downloading the stored operation history of each machine.
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Specification